Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
A. M. Wright, manager of the local
Everett Co.'s warerooms, is away in the
Adirondacks for a few days rest. He is
taking a late vacation but luckily chose a
time when New Yorkers who are kept in
town have been compelled to experience
some very undesirable "left-over" July
weather.
Steinway & Sons report a marked aug-
mentation of business for August and Sep-
tember up to date. Mr. Stetson said to
The Review yesterday that the business
outlook as far as the Steinway house is
concerned was both satisfactory and en-
couraging.
When the head of the firm is so busy an-
swering letters that he hardly dares to stop
to take breath for fear of losing time, there
is good reason to suppose that his business
is moving forward at a brisk pace. The
Review discovered several such instances
this week and accepts them as good omens
for the fall.
Otto Braumuller, of the Braumuller Co.,
whose stay at Mount Clemens was extended
beyond the period originally fixed, expects
to begin his business tour within a week.
At the factory, business is reported ac-
tive and increasing.
The report at the Stultz & Bauer ware-
rooms this week is to the effect that busi-
ness isjsatisfactory. Mr. Golden, as antici-
pated by The Review, is making a good
record with the Stultz & Bauer new styles
on the road.
Mann & Eccles, of Providence, R. I., who
now represent Haines Bros., have written
a letter to the firm stating that they are
well pleased with the new Haines Bros,
styles recently shipped to their address.
It is wonderful what enterprise and a
liberal application of paint and varnish
will accomplish. There is Chickering Hall,
for example. It looks as spick and span as
a quarter of a century ago, and is splendidly
equipped for a busy musical season.
Mr. Nelson, of the National Musical
String Co., who has been out of town
for a few days on a visit to his family, is
expected to return shortly. His represen-
tative, responding on Thursday to a call
for news, said that business is "very good
indeed."
Harry B. Tremaine will return to the
^Eolian warerooms from a vacation trip to-
day. W. B. Tremaine is slightly indis-
posed and will remain at his home for a
few days.
Col. E. A. Potter, of Lyon, Potter & Co.,
is making a short stay in New York. Be-
fore his departure he will make a selection
of the various styles of instruments which
he represents for the fall trade.
Nahum Stetson, of Steinway & Sons, re-
turned on Tuesday last from the Isle of
Shoals, where he had been spending a
short vacation.
Theo. Pfafflin has been visiting his legion
of music trade friends in this city during
the past few days. If appearances be a
criterion he looks as if country life agreed
with him.
Arthur Ashforth, who was formerly con-
nected with the business department of
the local house of Chickering & Sons, died
at his home in this city last Wednesday.
He had been in ill health for some time.
The None Such Musical Association,
of Topeka, Kan., was incorporated on Sep-
tember 4, with a capital stock of $500.
The directors are L. V. Gray, William
Graham, James L. Nolin, William Jackson
and O. O. Over.
Henry Spies is away from town for a
few days, combining business and pleasure.
According to the record, he is able to
secure more good orders and good agencies
under such conditions than others are able
to report after the most strenuous efforts,
for business only.
A. Harold Kayton, who formerly travel-
ed for John F. Stratton & Co., is now con-
nected with the Harmony Co., of Chicago,
manufacturers of mandolins and guitars.
He will hereafter represent that company
in the East, making New York his head-
quarters.
F. G. Smith, of Bradbury fame, is one
of the cheeriest and most optimistic of men
in regard to fall trade. Already the de-
mand forBradburys has set in at his differ-
ent branch houses, and the factory in
Brooklyn is feeling the impetus.
f Mr. Perkins of the ^Eolian warerooms
has partially recovered from his recent
spell of sickness and will be at his desk on
Monday.
The report at the Ehrhard & Hagen fac-
tory on Thursday, when The Review
called, was "business very good indeed ; all
hands working overtime to fill orders."
The Alex. Ross Music Co. of Pittsburg
have decided to discontinue their small
goods department.
Reams Bros., music dealers, Kalamazoo,
Mich., have moved to their newly fitted
up store at 143 Burdick street, that city.
Fred J. Mabon, of Bruce, Mabon & Co.,
Springfield, Mass., was in town last Satur-
day.
Breitzman & Hughes have opened a
music store at Appleton, Wis.
In Brookfield, Mo., Nichols & Almroth
have opened up a music store.
The Gibson Piano Co.
The new Gibson program laid down,
and stated at some length a few weeks ago
in The Review's talk with Mr. Cameron, is
being carried out to the letter. A catalogue
is in preparation, containing several new
styles in selected woods. Although not yet
practically placed on the market, a large
demand has been made and a force is at
work completing orders.
Improved Retail Trade.
On our round of calls this week at the
various warerooms we have been informed
without exception that there has been a
decided improvement in retail trade. Sales
have been numerous, supplemented by
callers and inquiries. This is especially
significant in view of the heated spell which
has visited the cit3 7 during the week. Old
Sol has not deterred New Yorkers from
getting back to town, and everybody "his
sisters, his cousins and his aunts" seem
to be settling down for the fall and winter,
while those who have been in town all sum-
mer are of the opinion, apparently, that the
piano is most requisite to make life com-
fortable and happy during the cool weather.
Behr Co. Officers.
Edward Behr has been chosen as Treas-
urer and Gustav Heubach as Secretary of
Behr Bros. & Co. These appointments have
been made to fill the vacancies caused by
the removal of Chas. L. Burchard, who
was Secretary and Treasurer of the com-
pany. Mr. Heubach, the new Secretary, is
connected with the firm of Herman Behr &
Co., 75 Beekman street. Mr. Herman Behr
is president of Behr Bros. & Co. Busi-
ness is reported good, all hands working
full time to complete orders now on file.
The "Schaeffer" in Demand.
I. N. Rice of the Schaeffer Piano Co.,
Chicago, has been doing some herculean
work for his firm in an unostentatious way.
Possessing as he does a thorough knowledge
of the trade and its requirements, he is
building instruments at a popular price
which in their class will compare favor-
ably with any before the trade. The pre-
sent activity of the Schaeffer Piano Co. is
proof positive that their products are find-
ing a large market. Some splendid con-
nections that are panning out well are
attributable to the efforts of J. K. M. Gill,
the active road representative. The fall
prospects for the " Schaeffer " are bright,
and Mr. Rice and his associates can well
feel enthusiastic over the outlook.
New Style "Ludwigs."
The report this week at the Ludwig fac-
tory is, as usual, encouraging. Mr. Ericc-
son, when asked about the fall program,
said that several new styles are now in
course of preparation. When they are
ready a new catalogue will be issued, sur-
passing anything of the kind yet sent out
by the firm. It will contain ample choice
and attractive designs for the 1897-8 trade.
"As to quality," said Mr. Ericcson, "our
products may safely be allowed to stand
on their merits; they tell their own story."
The S. S. Stewart Banjo and Guitar
Journal, which made its appearance this
week, is certainly above the average in its
musical and literary contents.
The yue kin, or moon guitar, of China,
has four strings, tuned in pairs at intervals
of the fifth. The drum is usually decorated
with Chinese figures in various grotesque
positions.